The Student Room Group

Which uni extra curriculars look best on a CV?

General university societies like LGBT society, rock society etc....sport societies e.g. football team, tennis club etc....or part time jobs??? I know September is a long way away but I'm trying to think about how best to spend my time there. A lot of people I know who have started uni this year are doing none of the above, just focusing on their courses and going out etc. Their parents are loaded and so they don't need part time jobs. But am I right in thinking that these are the people whose CVs won't stand out when it comes to applying for jobs???
President of the largest, richest society in your Union can help. Especially when you actually do things... say, business things which involve deals, large sums of money, large amounts of reposiblity...

Captain of the First (number) in (sport) is handy.
Lead actor/actress in (play) is useful.
First chair in (instrument) in orchestra too.

Winner of (some) competition.
Highest academic achiever scholarships.
Starting your own super successful company...

There are a lot of things. Not all of them can be done at once (well, not normally). But do what you like and enjoy. I'm not sure part-time work really standsout (but if you need to do it, do it).
the_mars_volta
General university societies like LGBT society, rock society etc....sport societies e.g. football team, tennis club etc....or part time jobs??? I know September is a long way away but I'm trying to think about how best to spend my time there. A lot of people I know who have started uni this year are doing none of the above, just focusing on their courses and going out etc. Their parents are loaded and so they don't need part time jobs. But am I right in thinking that these are the people whose CVs won't stand out when it comes to applying for jobs???


Do something you enjoy during termtime, work during holidays.
Reply 3
I wouldn't ever recommend joining a society just to put it on your CV! They're meant to be for, you know, fun

Though for what it's worth, we were discussing at fencing prior to the uni awards ceremony thing that having colours, half blues, and especially blues is apparently good to have when going for jobs.
Reply 4
Yeah, join things that you're interested in and try and work your way up the rungs in those societies or teams. Getting a blue, or half-blue in a team sport is going to look really good on any CV, being the president of a society with a large membership would also look good as would things like editing the student newspaper. However, you're not going to be able to just join a society that you have no interest in and get to the top, its much better to do something you enjoy, even if you won't make it to the top :smile: .
Reply 5
Part time job will help you whilst you are at uni and can be used to show that you have the commitment to be able to work and study etc - you can also get good experience for future jobs. If you join a society then you need to attend ideally and make an effort to get involved. Just saying I was a member of.....won't look that good. Lots of people join societies, what did you do with it? Even if you aren't that good at a sport but join a club and try and improve, make a regular commitment etc it is still good.

Like people have said though, don't just do it for your CV, it needs to be things that you are intrested in. You could do voluntary work as well, help at a local school, guide/scout pack, help on the nightline etc at uni.
aiesec is 'ok' in my opinion. Few will turn it into a real winner.

This from an ex-VPOGX.
Reply 8
President_Ben
aiesec is 'ok' in my opinion. Few will turn it into a real winner.

This from an ex-VPOGX.

AIESEC didn't really appeal to me and of the few people I've known that have done it they haven't got too much out of it, especially not CV points, I'd go as far as saying I probably got more points in my first term than they've had from AISEC altogether. Though I guess you really have to put a lot in to get a lot out.
aiesec can add a lot, but few get the chance to be adding that much from it

Drogue, the aiesec LCP in Oxford, is right now the facilitator for a meeting in Hungary with hundreds of delegates from all over the world. Among many other notable achievements. So it clearly does work for some (though he sure gives a lot to aiesec).

I got quite a bit out of it as well, taking over a position usually reserved for 2nd year aiesecers following the snap resignation of someone and filling in shoes left by someone else - trying to patch the job and build a base for the year after. Still, it is by no means the biggest thing on my cv, kind of far from it...
Do something you enjoy and you will often find success in it. CV building is an inherent waste of time if you can't be genuine about it in an interview.
Fair points Ben, but nothing hands success to you on a plate. AIESEC is an opportunity like any other, so the fact that you have to actually take it for it to be worth anything isn't much of a criticism. I was LCP Oxford two years before Will (Drogue), and I rate it as the best experience of my life, as well as the top item of my CV. I also had committee positions at Oxford's second- and third-biggest societies, and they were nothing in comparison.
There is the fact that corporations work in groups/teams and group dynamics is what matters to them the most,

How your peers view you, how much you have contributed and showed SELF-motivation and leadership will count the most,